We’ve compared the prices of common items over the last 30 years to see how their price changes compare to inflation.
We also have a cost of living calculator where you can see how much it would cost when moving from one city to another.
The cost of living in the UK has changed significantly over the past 35 years, with the price of many items soaring well above inflation. This can mean that trying to get a mortgage deposit together feels almost impossible, especially as house prices are rising at exponential rates, and regular saving also becomes more difficult.
The table below breaks down the price of select items in 1990 vs 2024.
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2017 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £53,337 | £86,244 | £155,405 | £207,568 | £268,087 |
| Pint of beer | £1.22 | £2.00 | £2.94 | £3.58 | £4.77 |
| Tank of unleaded petrol | £23.10 | £44.00 | £64.35 | £64.90 | £77.55 |
| Loaf of bread | 50p | 52p | £1.20 | £1.03 | £1.40 |
| Pint of milk | 31p | 34p | 44p | 43p | 65p |
In 1990, the average price for a house in the UK was just £53,337. This has increased dramatically in the 35 years since – shooting up more than 400% – with the average UK house price in 2024 at £268,087. It’s no wonder young people are struggling to get on the housing ladder!
The biggest increases in house prices in a single year came between 2001 and 2002, when the average price shot up 28% from £90,242 to £115,835.
| Year | Average house price | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | £53,337 | |
| 1991 | £52,908 | -0.80% |
| 1992 | £49,018 | -8.10% |
| 1993 | £49,768 | -6.69% |
| 1994 | £51,517 | -3.41% |
| 1995 | £51,367 | -3.69% |
| 1996 | £55,164 | 3.43% |
| 1997 | £59,511 | 11.58% |
| 1998 | £66,757 | 25.16% |
| 1999 | £76,001 | 42.49% |
| 2000 | £86,244 | 61.70% |
| 2001 | £90,242 | 69.19% |
| 2002 | £115,835 | 117.18% |
| 2003 | £125,433 | 135.17% |
| 2004 | £138,853 | 160.33% |
| 2005 | £147,580 | 176.69% |
| 2006 | £162,881 | 205.38% |
| 2007 | £174,280 | 226.75% |
| 2008 | £148,267 | 177.98% |
| 2009 | £154,832 | 190.29% |
| 2010 | £155,405 | 191.36% |
| 2011 | £153,880 | 188.51% |
| 2012 | £155,534 | 191.61% |
| 2013 | £163,942 | 207.37% |
| 2014 | £176,561 | 231.03% |
| 2015 | £188,767 | 253.91% |
| 2016 | £198,513 | 272.19% |
| 2017 | £207,568 | 289.16% |
| 2018 | £211,621 | 296.76% |
| 2019 | £213,521 | 300.32% |
| 2020 | £228,446 | 328.31% |
| 2021 | £245,189 | 359.70% |
| 2022 | £263,190 | 393.45% |
| 2023 | £256,177 | 380.30% |
| 2024 | £268,087 | 402.63% |
Beer is another item that has rocketed up in price way above inflation. In 1990, it would have cost you just £1.22 to sip on a cool pint of lager. However, in 2024, the average pint cost £4.77 – almost 4 times as much!
Lager saw a big price increase between 2022 and 2023 during the UK cost of living crisis, going up 11% in the space of just one year.
| Year | Average price of a pint of draught lager (£) | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | £1.22 | |
| 1991 | £1.37 | 12.30% |
| 1992 | £1.46 | 19.67% |
| 1993 | £1.53 | 25.41% |
| 1994 | £1.58 | 29.51% |
| 1995 | £1.66 | 36.07% |
| 1996 | £1.73 | 41.80% |
| 1997 | £1.81 | 48.36% |
| 1998 | £1.89 | 54.92% |
| 1999 | £1.94 | 59.02% |
| 2000 | £2.00 | 63.93% |
| 2001 | £2.03 | 66.39% |
| 2002 | £2.09 | 71.31% |
| 2003 | £2.26 | 85.25% |
| 2004 | £2.33 | 90.98% |
| 2005 | £2.41 | 97.54% |
| 2006 | £2.51 | 105.74% |
| 2007 | £2.62 | 114.75% |
| 2008 | £2.74 | 124.59% |
| 2009 | £2.80 | 129.51% |
| 2010 | £2.94 | 140.98% |
| 2011 | £3.08 | 152.46% |
| 2012 | £3.18 | 160.66% |
| 2013 | £3.29 | 169.67% |
| 2014 | £3.37 | 176.23% |
| 2015 | £3.45 | 182.79% |
| 2016 | £3.48 | 185.25% |
| 2017 | £3.58 | 193.44% |
| 2018 | £3.64 | 198.36% |
| 2019 | £3.70 | 203.28% |
| 2020 | £3.79 | 210.66% |
| 2021 | £3.96 | 224.59% |
| 2022 | £4.10 | 236.07% |
| 2023 | £4.56 | 273.77% |
| 2024 | £4.77 | 290.98% |
Based on a tank size of 55L, the average cost to fill up your car with unleaded petrol has gone from £23.10 in 1990 to £77.55 in 2024, an increase of 236%.
The cost was actually highest in 2022, however, at £90.75. This was a result of petrol prices skyrocketing in 2022.
Bread is a staple item in our weekly food shop, but how has the price changed over the years? Back in 1990, a loaf of bread would have cost you just 50p, but in 2024 the same loaf would have cost you £1.40. That’s almost 3 times as much!
As with the price of a pint, the biggest increase in price came with the 2022 cost of living crisis as the price of a loaf jumped by 15% between 2021 and 2022.
| Year | Average price of a load of bread | total % change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | £0.50 | |
| 1991 | £0.53 | 6.00% |
| 1992 | £0.54 | 8.00% |
| 1993 | £0.55 | 10.00% |
| 1994 | £0.50 | 0.00% |
| 1995 | £0.52 | 4.00% |
| 1996 | £0.55 | 10.00% |
| 1997 | £0.52 | 4.00% |
| 1998 | £0.51 | 2.00% |
| 1999 | £0.51 | 2.00% |
| 2000 | £0.52 | 4.00% |
| 2001 | £0.51 | 2.00% |
| 2002 | £0.57 | 14.00% |
| 2003 | £0.58 | 16.00% |
| 2004 | £0.64 | 28.00% |
| 2005 | £0.71 | 42.00% |
| 2006 | £0.81 | 62.00% |
| 2007 | £0.90 | 80.00% |
| 2008 | £1.19 | 138.00% |
| 2009 | £1.23 | 146.00% |
| 2010 | £1.20 | 140.00% |
| 2011 | £1.20 | 140.00% |
| 2012 | £1.24 | 148.00% |
| 2013 | £1.30 | 160.00% |
| 2014 | £1.16 | 132.00% |
| 2015 | £1.04 | 108.00% |
| 2016 | £1.00 | 100.00% |
| 2017 | £1.03 | 106.00% |
| 2018 | £1.06 | 112.00% |
| 2019 | £1.06 | 112.00% |
| 2020 | £1.05 | 110.00% |
| 2021 | £1.07 | 114.00% |
| 2022 | £1.23 | 146.00% |
| 2023 | £1.37 | 174.00% |
| 2024 | £1.40 | 180.00% |
A pint of milk would have set you back just 31p in 1990, but in 2024, this had risen to 65p – more than double.
Milk was an everyday staple that had remained relatively low in price – generally tracking below inflation. However, with the 2022 cost of living crisis, it jumped up by 33% in a single year and then by another 17.5% in 2023.
| Year | Average cost of a pint of milk | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | £0.31 | |
| 1991 | £0.32 | -73.44% |
| 1992 | £0.34 | -72.21% |
| 1993 | £0.34 | -71.89% |
| 1994 | £0.36 | -70.49% |
| 1995 | £0.36 | -70.41% |
| 1996 | £0.36 | -70.57% |
| 1997 | £0.35 | -71.23% |
| 1998 | £0.34 | -72.05% |
| 1999 | £0.34 | -71.97% |
| 2000 | £0.34 | -71.97% |
| 2001 | £0.37 | -70.00% |
| 2002 | £0.36 | -70.25% |
| 2003 | £0.37 | -70.00% |
| 2004 | £0.35 | -71.15% |
| 2005 | £0.35 | -71.39% |
| 2006 | £0.35 | -71.48% |
| 2007 | £0.37 | -69.84% |
| 2008 | £0.42 | -65.49% |
| 2009 | £0.44 | -63.85% |
| 2010 | £0.44 | -63.77% |
| 2011 | £0.45 | -62.87% |
| 2012 | £0.46 | -62.30% |
| 2013 | £0.46 | -62.30% |
| 2014 | £0.46 | -62.13% |
| 2015 | £0.43 | -64.51% |
| 2016 | £0.43 | -65.00% |
| 2017 | £0.43 | -64.59% |
| 2018 | £0.44 | -63.85% |
| 2019 | £0.44 | -63.85% |
| 2020 | £0.43 | -64.67% |
| 2021 | £0.43 | -64.84% |
| 2022 | £0.57 | -53.11% |
| 2023 | £0.67 | -44.92% |
| 2024 | £0.65 | -46.64% |
Using data from the below sources, Finder worked out the percentage increases in the prices of several common items and compared them to the inflation rate over time.
Data sources: Land Registry, ONS, Royal Mail and House of Commons Library.
Sophie Barber
Communications Manager
Mortgage, conveyancing and survey packages for first-time buyers explained
Discover how integrated home-buying packages work, how pricing compares vs paying for services individually, and decide whether to bundle your mortgage, legal work, and property survey into one.
Every first-time buyer’s journey will look a little different, but here’s a step-by-step guide to the typical process for getting a mortgage.
We go head-to-head in 8 key categories to find out whether it’s worth using a broker.
What home buyer insurance is mandatory, what’s optional, and how to choose the best insurance deal as a first-time buyer.
If you’re wondering whether to use a mortgage broker or go directly to a bank, we explore the benefits of a broker.
While it can be trickier than buying with someone, it’s absolutely possible to get a mortgage as a single person. Here’s what you need to know.
If you’re wondering whether to use a mortgage broker or go directly to a bank, we explore the benefits of a broker.
Here’s everything you need to know about fees when exiting a mortgage.
Explore this guide on how to get the right home loan for you if you’re aged over 65.
Everything you need to know about joint mortgages and buying a property with your parents.
Find out about the online-only mortgage broker service, Mojo Mortgages.
They have been popular in other countries for some time, and now 15 year fixed rate mortgages are available in the UK.
Plenty of lenders will let you borrow 95% of a property’s value.
Our review reveals everything you need to know about Habito.
Find out more about the range of mortgages from Lloyds Bank, as well as what customers have to say about the lender.
Looking for a mortgage with TSB? Compare different rates and mortgage types, and find out how to get the right home loan for you.
